Antioxidant and calcium levels in mature and immature diabetic cataract lens

Cataract is considered a major cause of visual impairment in diabetic patients as the incidence and progression of cataract is elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus. The pathogenesis of diabetic cataract development is still not fully understood. Due to increasing numbers of type 1 and type 2 diabetics worldwide, the incidence of diabetic cataracts steadily rises. Even though cataract surgery, the most common ophthalmic procedure worldwide, is an effective cure, the elucidation of patho- mechanisms to delay or prevent the development of cataract in diabetic patients remains a challenge. Furthermore, patients with diabetes mellitus have higher complication rates from cataract surgery. Both diabetes and cataract pose an enormous health and economic burden, particularly in developing countries, where diabetes treatment is insufficient and cataract surgery often inaccessible. Hence the objective of the study was to assess the antioxidant levels and calcium levels in different stages of cataract. Our study showed a significant reduction in lens antioxidant activity with significantly increased calcium levels in mature stage of cataract, suggesting decreased antioxidant activity plays an important role in diabetic cataract by causing deposition of calcium in lens. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v6i1.5290